OS X 10.9 Called Lynx? Probably Not [Rumor]

With Mac OS X now in its ninth edition, one of the biggest hurdles Apple must overcome for its OS X 10.9 release is which cool cat it will be named after. We’ve had Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion so far. So what next?

Well, according to one rumor, it’ll be named OS X 10.9 Lynx. But we’re a little skeptical.

AppleScoop claims that a reliable source has revealed the name of Apple’s next-generation desktop operating system. “This source claimed that he saw some internal papers that seem to be finalizing the name of the operating system,” the report says, “although the same source couldn’t say when Apple would be finalizing its name and announcing it to the public.”

Like previous OS X updates, 10.9 is expected to arrive next summer, with an announcement from during the first quarter of 2013.

However, we’re a little skeptical that the company will name its next OS X update Lynx. It’s not that the name’s not cool enough, it’s just that it seems it would be too complicated; the name Lynx has already been used for fairly well-known products in the technology industry.

There’s the Lynx web browser, for a start, then the Atari Lynx. Then, of course, there’s LynxOS — another desktop operating system. Not only would naming OS X 10.9 Lynx make things incredibly confusing, then, but it’s possible that Apple could find itself on the receiving end of another lawsuit for using the name.

Taking that into consideration, we think it’s unlikely Apple will go with that name. In fact, we still think OS X 10.9 will be called Saber-toothed Tiger.

I don’t think the problem is confusion. At least not with LynxOS or some age old computer or buried browser. The problem’s in the name itself. Lion is the king, Mountain Lion is the refined king. Lynx doesn’t come after that. Besides, it really doesn’t sound as cool.